How to Plan Your Dream Wedding in Laos

In traditional Laotian Culture, wedding ceremonies usually took place in the morning at the home of the bride’s parents. The groom would go about around her house declaring to everyone crossing his path that there is a wedding and requesting blessings from all of them. However, in modern times weddings are planned to suit the convenience of all important parties. The unique Baci ceremony may be held at the bride’s home and a formal reception with food and drink is held at a hotel in the evening.

Traditional Wedding preparations

During the olden days, the parents of the young couple had discussions to agree on Bride’s Price. As requested by the parents of the bride, this price was a kind of refund for raising the bride and the love given to her through the years. This practice is not adhered to in most cases now. But parents give their blessings to the young couple to start their life together.

Unlike in Western countries, most Laotian young couples don’t have an engagement, instead, they discuss and plan the best day to have their wedding.

Setting the date for the wedding

As the belief is that the wedding date has an important bearing on the happiness of the young couple, they discuss the date with the parents from both sides and even senior elders of the families.

These people will collectively arrive at a day which will bring luck and happiness to the bride and groom. However, nowadays the Laos wedding day tends to be decided by the couple considering their availability to celebrate this important event of their life in the presence of their near and dear family.

Two Ceremonies

Considering the number of guests required to be invited, and the logistical planning and arrangements required, most families decide to have the wedding ceremony split as two separate events so that the symbolic importance of the Baci ceremony is honoured in the presence of close family and a more sociable reception is provided for all relatives and friends to mingle with the couple.

Baci Ceremony – This is the traditional ceremony including rituals according to Laotian traditions.

Formal wedding reception – This is held afterwards at a bigger venue to accommodate all the invitees.

Planning the perfect wedding

Baci Ceremony - In most Laos weddings now, the traditional Baci ceremony is planned for the morning at the bride’s residence. If this suits both of you arrange for the same with the close relatives and friends invited to attend the ceremony. The bride will wear a traditional Sink, a silk blouse and bedecked with jewellery and bells whilst the groom will dress in traditional silk pants and a white silk shirt.

This solemn ceremony is conducted by a master of ceremonies with all the traditional rituals of egg feeding, tying the wrists of the couple with white string chanting prayers for posterity after which the parents, close relatives and friends do the same wishing the couple well. Refreshments will be served thereafter.

Lao Wedding reception – Completing the Baci ceremony in the morning at the Bride’s Residence, there must be a time duration for the couple and close family and friends to rest.

Plan to commence the evening reception at a hotel such as Avani+ Luang Prabang as the sun goes down so that everyone is rested and is at their best. Have guests mix and mingle with a carefully selected array of food, beverages and light music. This enjoyment is carried forward by the couple opening the dance floor with a Lao-style first dance as man and wife. Others would soon join in the enjoyment going on till the wee hours of the following day.